The Panthers and NSW star has been slapped with a $10,000 fine and one-match suspension for his actions.

60 per cent of the players' fines and each of the one-match bans will be suspended for the remainder of the season, whilst all four players have five days to respond to the breach notices before a final determination is made.

Speaking on the sanctions on Tuesday, Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) chairman Peter V’landys said the actions of the players were extremely disappointing given the NRL's efforts to restart the competition in a month's time.

“The players have a responsibility to the game and community. It is important that, in these challenging times, we all have to work together to combat COVID-19 and compliance with public health orders is a critical requirement,’’ he said.

“The players have to understand that they are putting the game and the community at risk by their actions. It’s certainly hard to accept such behaviour when the game is doing everything it can to persuade the community that its players are responsible and behave appropriately.

“The penalties have been structured so as to give these players one further opportunity to demonstrate that they can be trusted. If they contravene again, then those parts of the penalty that have been suspended will be activated and they may also be subject to further sanction.”

Acting NRL CEO Andrew Abdo meanwhile stressed the fines send a clear message to other players over the seriousness of the matter.

“The sanctions proposed today are stronger than fines which can be imposed by authorities because we hold our players to a higher standard and they must set a higher standard for the community,’’ he said.

“We are focussed on resuming the competition on May 28, something our fans and stakeholders are excited about. Players who do not comply with community and NRL protocols will face sanction.”